Ski boot holding clamp

ABSTRACT

A toe or heel clamp for ski bindings includes a bearing block pivotally mounted on a vertical bearing bolt carried on a binding plate which is adapted to be secured to the ski. The bearing block is contained within a housing carrying a boot-engaging holddown. The housing is carried on a horizontally extending crossbolt in a manner permitting its pivot movement about the horizontal axis of the bolt. The ski clamp is pivotal in a horizontal plane and lift movable in a plane perpendicular thereto for the release of the holddown from the boot in an overload condition. A combined ratchet device includes a ratchet carrier which is pivotal about a horizontal axis within the housing and which is biased in a direction against a cross ratchet member by a coil spring which may be adjustably mounted at one end within a sleeve which may be threaded in the bearing block. The opposite end of the spring is retained on a protuberance defined on the ratchet carrier. The ratchet carrier includes side projections or tines which extend around each side of the central ratchet bolt member and has an exterior roller sleeve thereon. The common ratchet carrier is movable by either a lifting and/or a transverse movement of the boot and it is associated with ratchet members in such a manner that a release in one direction of movement will cause a corresponding release of the ratchet member in another direction of movement.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Heinz Korger; Heinrich Eckel, both of Munich, Germany [21] Appl. No. 837,579 [22] Filed June 30, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5,1971 [73] Assignee Firma Heinrich Eckel Munich, Germany [32] Priority July 2, 1968 [3 3] Germany [31] P17 03 719.3

[54] SKI BOOT HOLDING CLAMP 14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 280/1l.35 T

[51] Int. Cl A63c 9/00 [50] FieldoiSearch ..280/ll.35T

[56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 3,326,567 6/1967 Pronzati 280/1135 HA 3,337,225 8/1967 SmolkaetaL. 280/1135 HA 3,436,089 4/1969 Beyl 280/1135 HA FORElGN PATENTS 452,415 12/1965 Switzerland 280/1135 lIl I 35 9 B 3g 37 I0 i a l 21. 16 i T i pi i ll i l 25 4 i 1 L 5 Primary Examiner-Benjarnin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorney-Torc and McGeady ABSTRACT: A toe or heel clamp for ski bindings includes a bearing block pivotally mounted on a vertical bearing bolt carried on a binding plate which is adapted to be secured to the ski. The bearing block is contained within a housing carrying a boot-engaging holddown. The housing is carried on a horizontally extending crossbolt in a manner permitting its pivot movement about the horizontal axis of the bolt. The ski clamp is pivotal in a horizontal plane and lift movable in a plane perpendicular thereto for the release of the holddown from the boot in an overload condition. A combined ratchet device includes a ratchet carrier which is pivotal about a horizontal axis within the housing and which is biased in a direction against a cross ratchet member by a coil spring which may be adjustably mounted at one end within a sleeve which may be threaded in the bearing block. The opposite end of the spring is retained on a protuberance defined on the ratchet carrier. The ratchet carrier includes side projections or tines which extend around each side of the central ratchet bolt member and has an exterior roller sleeve thereon. The common ratchet carrier is movable by either a lifting and/or a transverse movement of the boot and it is associated with ratchet members in such a manner that a release in one direction of movement will cause a corresponding release of the ratchet member in another direction of movement.

PATENTED um 5:97:

SHEET 1 OF 3 E INVENTORS H /N Z KO 6 E9 HE/NR/C'H 35x51.

.4 T TORN YS PATENTED 0m 5 IBYI SHEET 2 UF 3 INVENTORS Hewvz KORGEQ HEINRICH ECKEL A r ram/s vs SKI aoo'r nounnc CLAMP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of ski bindings and, in particular, to a new and useful safety clamp for ski bindings having a spring-loaded ratchet device which is movable crosswise in a horizontal plane and lift movable in a plane approximately perpendicular thereto to release a holding clamp upon an overload in horizontal and vertical directions. a

It is regarded to be a disadvantage if the clamping elements of ski bindings are lift movable and transversely movable and if they require separate adjustment for each type of movement. Owing to this, four adjustments of different hardness are possible on a pair of skis for one securing clamp alone. This may cause considerable uncertainty as to what type of releasing action will take place during an overload in skiing. A further disadvantage of the known design is that a clamp will release in either the direction of lift movement or in the transverse direction of movement, and that for release in each of these two directions a separate releasing force is necessary. If this releasing force in one of the two directions is too low, releasing will take place only in the direction in which a sufficiently large releasing force is attained. This will necessarily produce an undue stress on the leg for as long as the releasing force does not act in the other direction.

in order to provide an improvement in such devices, it has been proposed in accordance with the invention that the ratchet device be operated by a common return spring and that a common ratchet carrier be movable by a lift or a transverse movement of the boot. in addition the ratchet carrier is designed so that, at least upon the release of the ratchet in one direction of movement, both holding members will be released to permit opening of the clamp in both directions. Such a clamp provides not only the assurance of a more uniform adjustment but, because of the simplification of its operation, it can be easily adjusted by the ordinary person. Since the ratchet carrier will move away from both ratchet members to affect release upon a pure lift movement as well as by transverse movement or upon a total movement composed of the single movements, an optimum protection against excessive strain of the leg is achieved. The clamp therefore snaps open upon any movement of the retained ski boot against it as long as the force of this movement exceeds a set maximum value. A pure lift movement, for example, suffices to allow the leg a rotational movement at or after the release of the clamp without any action of force. Moreover, even a small force not sufficient for release in one direction will cause a release of the leg provided the leg has already been released in the other direction.

The ratchet carrier is preferably mounted for pivotal movement but of course, it can be positioned so that pure transitional movement is effected. In a variant of the invention the ratchet carrier may be fastened pivotally to a bearing block connected within a baseplate for rotation about a vertical axis. The pivotability of the ratchet carrier permits release by the lift movement of the boot and the rotation of the vertical axis of the ratchet carrier permits the crosswise movement of the foot. The bearing block is designed to support a threaded sleeve member for accommodating one end of the ratchet member biasing spring and the other end is supported on the ratchet carrier itself. in order to be able to vary the counter force of the spring, the carrying sleeve for the spring on the bearing block is formed as a setscrew which may be shifted axially in order to vary this clamping force.

The ratchet carrier is designed as a member having a recess with a centering protuberance for accommodating the other end of the adjustable biasing spring. The ratchet carrier is designed as a single piece member which is pivotally supported in the housing and which carries a ratchet groove on its opposite face for receiving preferably a horizontally arranged ratchet bolt which extends approximately normal to the pivot plane of the ratchet carrier. The carrier is provided with a runup or elevated surface adjacent the bolt for retaining the ratchet bolt when the clamp is in an engaged position. A lift movement is transmitted by the ski boot through the holddown for the clamp which usually rests on the sole or the heel edge of the boot. The ratchet bolt is displaced by the lift movement and runs along the ratchet surface to cause rotation of the ratchet carrier counter to the force of the adjusting spring. Upon attainment of the trip point the ratchet carrier reaches its greatest deflection. After the tripping point the spring exerts a moment acting on the clamp in the opening sense of movement so that after a certain deflection angle of the clamp it will snap open completely due to the force of thespring and in so doing release the boot without further application or force.

The transverse ratchet device operates similarly and on the same ratchet carrier. It is formed by a fixed ratchet pin which is engaged by tines or projections of the ratchet carrier on each side thereof, the tines defining a recess centrally therebetween for accommodating the ratchet carrier in a position surrounding the fixed ratchet pizn. For release to be effected the ratchet carrier must move relative to the ratchet pin to move the pin over the tine projections and by transverse movement of the boot one or the other tine of the ratchet carrier is pressed against the ratchet pin. Due to the outwardly opening angle formed by the faces of the tines the unbalancing force gives a force component directed against the pretensioning spring resulting in a pivotal movement of the ratchet carrier. During this pivotal movement the ratchet carrier will also move away from the ratchet bolt in the lift ratchet device so that both ratchet devices carry out a. disengaging movement simultaneously. Whether one ratchet disengages before the other or whether they both disengage simultaneously will depend on the specific design. The fixed ratchet pin is advantageously fastened to the baseplate which is adapted to be secured to the ski and it is surrounded by a rotatable sleeve which serves as a roller to transform sliding friction into rolling friction to provide for easier operation of the device.

The clamp advantageously includes a holddown for the ski boot which is mounted thereon so that it may be adjusted by means of a mounting screw. The holddown is advantageously movable in a plane approximately parallel to the sole of the boot and counter to the force of the return spring in a telescoping fashion relative to the clamp so that it can exert not only a pressing force directed against the sole of the boot but also against the interior thereof. The arrangement provides a good retention of the boot. The clamp provides a housing or covering hood with a window portion carrying the ratchet bolt of the lift ratchet device and an internally positioned scale which is coupled to the clamping spring adjustment sleeve is mounted so that it will be indexed past the opening or window to show the skier the amount of adjustment for which the clamps have been set.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved ski-clamping device and which includes a ratchet carrier for the clamp which is biased by an adjustable biasing force against two ratchet members one of which prevents a lifting opening movement and the other of which prevents a transverse horizontal opening movement caused by the operating force of the boot and wherein the carrier is constructed such that upon release thereof by application of a predetermined high boot force to release the ratchet in one of either a lift or lateral direction there will be an automatic release in the other of the directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ski binding which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: 1

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line l-I of FIG. 2 of a ski binder constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view partly in section of the device indicated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a ski-binding clamp which includes a baseplate 1 which is adapted to a secured to the ski and which carries side apertures or eyes 2 and 3 for receiving screws (not shown) for fastening the device to the ski, for example, as a toe-engaging clamp. A bearing bolt 4 is riveted into the baseplate l and it provides a pivotal mounting for a bearing block 7. The top of the bolt 4 is provided with a cap portion for holding the bearing block 7 to the baseplate.

In accordance with the invention, the bearing block 7 pivotally carries a toe-engaging clamping mechanism which may be opened by a lifting force or a transverse force and which is held in a boot-engaging clamping position by means of a ratchet carrier 9 which is pivoted on a pivot shaft 8 of the bearing block and which may move in the direction of the arrow 10 for releasing the clamping mechanism.

The end of the ratchet carrier 9 which is opposite to its pivotal mounting end engages against a fixed ratchet pin 5 which is riveted into the baseplate 1 and it carries a rotatable sleeve 23 therearound.

A pivotal cross pin 45 is mounted in the bearing block 7 and it carries a housing portion or covering hood 36 of the clamping mechanism. The housing 36 is held in position against lifting movement by a cross ratchet member or bolt 12 which engages in a substantially horizontal recess 24 of the ratchet carrier 9. The ratchet carrier 9 is pressed against the ratchet bolt by means of a tension spring 11 so that unless the normal clamping force is exceeded the bolt 12 will not move relatively out of the recess 24 over a high runup surface defined by a protuberance 24a on ratchet carrier 9.

A spring clamping sleeve or tubular setscrew member 14 is threaded into the bearing block 7 and it receives one end of the coil spring 11. The sleeve 14 is provided with an external thread 15 which threadably engages in the bearing block 7 and the position of the sleeve may be adjusted by means of a screwdriver or coin which is insertable in an end slot 16 of the sleeve. The adjustment of the sleeve 14 provides a means for varying the holding force of the spring. An accurate setting of the holding force is indicated through a window 37 in the housing 36, and this setting indication is produced by the rotation of a part 39 which is coupled with the sleeve 14 and which carries an indicating scale 38 as shown in FIG. 2. The part 39 is coupled with the sleeve for movement therewith by the provision of an interengaging projection 40 and a pin coupling 41 with the sleeve.

The spring 11 has an end portion 17 which engages into a recess 18 of the ratchet carrier 9 and is centered by means of the centering protuberance or bolt formation 19 at the inner end of the recess of the carrier 9.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the clamping mechanism is held in a boot-engaging position by the operation of two ratchet devices generally designated 21 and 22. Ratchet device 21 serves as a so-called lift ratchet device while the ratchet device 22 constitutes a transverse ratchet device. The lift ratchet device 21 includes the ratchet pin 12 which is engaged in the recess 24 of the ratchet carrier 9 and which may move out of the recess by running up the surface of the protuberance 24a when a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring 11 is produced through the clamping mechanism by the boot of the skier.

The transverse ratchet device 22 is formed by the fixed ratchet pin 5 with its surrounding sleeve 23 which rotatably engages within a recess 25 bounded by oblique faces 28 and 29 of a forked end of the ratchet carrier 9. The oblique faces 28 and 29 define an outwardly opening angle and a release movement is possible against the force of the spring in the direction of the arrows 26 and 27 as shown in FIG. 2 when the housing 36 moves with the bearing block 7 on its pivotal mounting on the bolt 4.

The clamping mechanism includes a holddown 31 for the ski boot which is adjustably mounted by means of a height-adjusting screw 30 on the housing 36. When it is used as a front clamp the foremost edge of the boot sole (not shown) strikes against the surface 32 which serves as an abutment and the holddown surfaces 33 rest on the upper sole edge. The holddown 31 is mounted for displacement in a sliding sleeve 34. A relatively weak spring 35 is disposed within the sleeve 34 and bears outwardly against the holddown 31 and ensures that the holddown 31 always presses against the boot. The adjustment of the height of the holddown 31 is effected in a known manner by turning the height-adjusting screw 30.

If a moment of rotation or torque acts on the ski boot it exerts a force on the clamp, the component of which is transmitted through the covering hood 36 to bearing block 7 and thence to the ratchet carrier 9. Because of the rotatable attachment of the bearing block 7, to the mounting base 1, a release movement, for example, in the direction of the arrow 26, will take place so that a projecting portion or tine 42 of the ratchet carrier 9 will be pressed against the sleeve 23. At the same time the ratchet carrier will pivot in the direction of the arrow 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and in so doing will act against the compression spring 11. The ratchet carrier 9 undergoes its greatest deflection when the release point 43 as shown in FIG. 2, is reached and at this point the spring 11 also attains its maximum spring force.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a transverse movement of the clamp housing with the bearing block 7 will produce not only a release of the transverse ratchet device 22, but also of the lift ratchet device 21. With the pivoting of the ratchet carrier 9, the ratchet bolt will move relatively out of the recess 24 of the ratchet carrier and at a sufficiently great deflection the housing 36 will be pivoted upwardly in the direction of the arrow 44 without additional force action. Thus, not only rotary movement of the clamping device may be effected, but also a lifting movement.

The boot force which will permit release of the boot by the clamping mechanism may be controlled by the design of the forked end 25 of the ratchet carrier 9 and the sloping of the oblique faces 28 and 29 as desired. The design can be varied to accommodate variation of the spring path of movement, the variation of the resistance force during rotary movement and variation of the angle of deflection up to which the automatic return of the clamp may be effected. The design will make it possible to a accommodate small to medium lateral pivot movements of the boot without the clamp releasing. The same is also true with respect to lift movements of the boot. Upon lateral deflection the housing is released also in a vertical direction without requiring an additional actuating force. When the device is used with a front clamp it is not possible for the ski boot sole to jam upon lateral tilting movement between the sole holddown 31 and the top surface of the ski and result in an uncontrollable increase of the releasing force.

In a backward fall when a clamp is used as a front clamp for the ski boot, the tip of the boot exerts a lift off force on the holddown which results in a rotary movement of the housing 36 about the shaft 45 carried by the bearing block 7. The bolt 12 mounted in the housing must then move the ratchet carrier 9 in the direction of the arrow 10 against the resistance of the spring 11. Here again the spring path and the variation of releasing force can be influenced during the lifting movement by the design of the runup protuberance 24a. Upon the vertical lifting off of the housing 36, the clamp is also released laterally without any additional force acting in the direction laterally by the leg of the skier.

It is thus clear that the clamp of the invention can pivot in any desired angle between purely lateral and purely vertical release. Control of the pivotal movement of the clamping housing 36 will depend upon the design of the particular ratchet carrier 9 and its orientation in respect to the holding ratchets associated with the ratchet mechanisms 21 and 22.

We claim:

1. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a bearing block pivotally mounted on said base for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, clamp housing carried on said bearing block and being mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis thereon, said clamp housing having ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet carrier pivotally connected at one end for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis in said housing, a fixed ratchet pin extending substantially vertically upwardly on said baseplate, a transverse ratchet pin carried by said housing and extending across the interior thereof adjacent said ratchet carrier, a biasing spring having one end engaged with said bearing block and an opposite end bearing against said ratchet carrier to urge said ratchet carrier into interengagement with said fixed ratchet pin and said horizontal ratchet pin, said ratchet carrier defining a substantially vertical recess into which said vertical ratchet pin extends and a substantially horizontal recess into which said horizontal ratchet pin extends, said housing being movable by the force of the ski boot to displace said ratchet carrier against the force of the biasing spring and upon the application of a predetermined force to permit continued movement of said ratchet carrier relative to said vertical ratchet pin and said horizontal ratchet pin and when either of said ratchet pins is at a predetermined position in respect to the associated recess of said ratchet carrier the ratchet carrier will be positioned so as to release the other of said ratchet pins.

2. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier, a first ratchet member mounted adjacent to and engageable with a first portion of said ratchet carrier to hold said ratchet carrier against release primarily in the lateral direction, a second ratchet member spaced from said first ratchet member and mounted adjacent to and engageable with a second portion of said ratchet carrier which second portion is spaced from the first portion thereon to hold said ratchet carrier against release primarily in the lift direction, means biasing said ratchet carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the force of said biasing means on said ratchet carrier and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift ratchet member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other one of said ratchet members.

3. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 2, wherein said housing includes a holddown member for engagement with a ski boot, and means for adjusting the height of said holddown in respect to said housing.

4. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 2, wherein said housing includes a cover hood portion having a window means for adjusting the biasing force of said biasing means including a member having an indicating scale which is movable for effecting adjustment and which includes a portion which is visible within said window for indicating the setting of said biasing means.

5. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier pivotally mounted within said housing, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet carrier and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift ratchet member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other one of said ratchet members.

6. A ski boot-holding clamp comprising a mounting base, a bearing block pivotally mounted on said mounting base for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said bearing block having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier pivotally mounted within said housing, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and ar ranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other of said ratchet members.

7. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 6, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring engaged between said bearing block and said ratchet carrier.

8. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 7, including a setscrew threaded into said bearing block and bearing against one end of said spring for adjusting the compression thereon.

9. A ski boobholding clamp, according to claim 6, including a hollow sleeve threaded into said bearing block, said biasing means comprising a coil spring disposed within said hollow sleeve at its one end and bearing on its opposite end against said ratchet carrier, and said housing being pivotally supported on said bearing block for affording pivotal lift movement.

10. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 9, wherein said ratchet carrier includes a recess having a spring-centering protuberance therein for centering the opposite end of the spring end positioned within said sleeve.

11. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 10, wherein said first ratchet member includes a horizontally disposed ratchet bolt extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ratchet carrier, said ratchet carrier having a horizontally extending recess for receiving said bolt and having a runup surface preventing relative movement of said ratchet carrier in respect to said bolt. until the force of said biasing means is exceeded.

12. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, me'ans biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said second ratchet member comprises a fixed vertically extending pin, said ratchet carrier including a generally vertically extending groove having a lateral runup surface on each side thereof preventing relative movement of said ratchet carrier in respect to said fixed pin until the boot exerts a releasing force in excess of said biasing means tending to prevent the relative movement of said ratchet carrier in respect to said pin along the runup surfaces, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other of said ratchet members.

13. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim l2,

wherein said fixed pin is secured to said mounting base, and a rotatable sleeve carried on said fixed pin and bearing against said ratchet carrier.

14. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, said housing includes a holddown member for engagement with a ski boot means for adjusting the height of said holddown in respect to said housing means for mounting said holddown member on said housing permitting telescopic movement of said holddown in relation to said housing in respect to a plane parallel to said mounting base, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other of said ratchet members. 

1. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a bearing block pivotally mounted on said base for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, clamp housing carried on said bearing block and being mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis thereon, said clamp housing having ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-toside directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet carrier pivotally connected at one end for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis in said housing, a fixed ratchet pin extending substantially vertically upwardly on said baseplate, a transverse ratchet pin carried by said housing and extending across the interior thereof adjacent said ratchet carrier, a biasing spring having one end engaged with said bearing block and an opposite end beAring against said ratchet carrier to urge said ratchet carrier into interengagement with said fixed ratchet pin and said horizontal ratchet pin, said ratchet carrier defining a substantially vertical recess into which said vertical ratchet pin extends and a substantially horizontal recess into which said horizontal ratchet pin extends, said housing being movable by the force of the ski boot to displace said ratchet carrier against the force of the biasing spring and upon the application of a predetermined force to permit continued movement of said ratchet carrier relative to said vertical ratchet pin and said horizontal ratchet pin and when either of said ratchet pins is at a predetermined position in respect to the associated recess of said ratchet carrier the ratchet carrier will be positioned so as to release the other of said ratchet pins.
 2. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier, a first ratchet member mounted adjacent to and engageable with a first portion of said ratchet carrier to hold said ratchet carrier against release primarily in the lateral direction, a second ratchet member spaced from said first ratchet member and mounted adjacent to and engageable with a second portion of said ratchet carrier which second portion is spaced from the first portion thereon to hold said ratchet carrier against release primarily in the lift direction, means biasing said ratchet carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the force of said biasing means on said ratchet carrier and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift ratchet member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other one of said ratchet members.
 3. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 2, wherein said housing includes a holddown member for engagement with a ski boot, and means for adjusting the height of said holddown in respect to said housing.
 4. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 2, wherein said housing includes a cover hood portion having a window means for adjusting the biasing force of said biasing means including a member having an indicating scale which is movable for effecting adjustment and which includes a portion which is visible within said window for indicating the setting of said biasing means.
 5. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier pivotally mounted within said housing, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of saId biasing means on said ratchet carrier and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift ratchet member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other one of said ratchet members.
 6. A ski boot-holding clamp comprising a mounting base, a bearing block pivotally mounted on said mounting base for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said bearing block having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier pivotally mounted within said housing, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other of said ratchet members.
 7. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 6, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring engaged between said bearing block and said ratchet carrier.
 8. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 7, including a setscrew threaded into said bearing block and bearing against one end of said spring for adjusting the compression thereon.
 9. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 6, including a hollow sleeve threaded into said bearing block, said biasing means comprising a coil spring disposed within said hollow sleeve at its one end and bearing on its opposite end against said ratchet carrier, and said housing being pivotally supported on said bearing block for affording pivotal lift movement.
 10. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 9, wherein said ratchet carrier includes a recess having a spring-centering protuberance therein for centering the opposite end of the spring end positioned within said sleeve.
 11. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 10, wherein said first ratchet member includes a horizontally disposed ratchet bolt extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said ratchet carrier, said ratchet carrier having a horizontally extending recess for receiving said bolt and having a runup surface preventing relative movement of said ratchet carrier in respect to said bolt until the force of said biasing means is exceeded.
 12. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said second ratchet member comprises a fixed vertically extending pin, said ratchet carrier including a generally vertically extending groove having a lateral runup surface on each side thereof preventiNg relative movement of said ratchet carrier in respect to said fixed pin until the boot exerts a releasing force in excess of said biasing means tending to prevent the relative movement of said ratchet carrier in respect to said pin along the runup surfaces, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other of said ratchet members.
 13. A ski boot-holding clamp, according to claim 12, wherein said fixed pin is secured to said mounting base, and a rotatable sleeve carried on said fixed pin and bearing against said ratchet carrier.
 14. A ski boot-holding clamp, comprising a mounting base, a clamp housing pivotally mounted on said base having a ski boot-engaging portion which is pivotal in lateral side-to-side directions and in lift up and down directions, said housing includes a holddown member for engagement with a ski boot means for adjusting the height of said holddown in respect to said housing means for mounting said holddown member on said housing permitting telescopic movement of said holddown in relation to said housing in respect to a plane parallel to said mounting base, a ratchet mechanism engaged with said housing and holding it in respect to said mounting base against releasing pivotal movement in said lateral and lift directions and including a ratchet carrier, first and second ratchet members mounted adjacent said carrier and engageable with said ratchet carrier to hold said carrier against release primarily in lateral and in lift directions, respectively, means biasing said carrier into holding engagement with each of said first and second holding ratchet members to hold the clamp in a ski boot-engaging position, said first and second ratchet members and said ratchet carrier being constructed and arranged so that upon the application of a force by the ski boot in one of the lateral and lift directions to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means on said ratchet and to release a corresponding one of said first lateral ratchet member and said second lift member from said ratchet carrier there will also be a release of the other of said ratchet members. 